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The Five Basics of Balance

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Fit in the First State is brought to you by the team at ATI Physical Therapy, a nationally-recognized physical therapy and sports medicine provider with over 200 locations nationwide and 24 right here in the First State. From stretching programs
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Fit in the First State is brought to you by the team at ATI Physical Therapy, a nationally-recognized physical therapy and sports medicine provider with over 200 locations nationwide and 24 right here in the First State. From stretching programs to exercise routine tips, our team brings you valuable health and fitness-related posts to help you get there to reach your health goals.

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By Ryan Kardos, ATI Physical Therapy

March 22, 2013
12:01 a.m.

Ever feel dizzy or lightheaded? Experience vertigo or blurry vision? You’re not alone. One recent study from the National Institutes of Health showed that as many as 69 million Americans have experienced some type of balance issue in their lifetime. However, what many of those 69 million don’t know is that there are treatment options available…in the form of physical therapy!
Today, Ryan Kardos, a physical therapist at ATI Physical Therapy in Seaford who specializes in vestibular rehabilitation, joins us to break down balance and explain some treatment options.
1. What determines our balance: The labyrinth, a maze-like structure made up of bone, fluid, and soft tissue found in the inner ear, largely controls our sense of balance. This part of the inner ear, along with other systems in our body, like the visual system (eyes) and skeletal system (bones and joints), helps us maintain our balance.
2. What issues can cause balance disorders: In addition to inner ear issues, heart problems, head injuries, medication, and blood circulation can affect an individual’s balance. Elderly individuals may also develop disorders because of their delayed reaction times.
3. Symptoms of balance disorders: Individuals with balance disorders may experience dizziness, blurry vision, vertigo, lightheadness, confusion, or disorientation. Individuals may also fall or experience the sensation of falling.
4. Common types of balance disorders: One common type of vestibular disorder is positional vertigo (or BPPV), which occurs when tiny crystals in the ear get knocked loose from hair cells, therefore resulting in episodes of vertigo. Other inner ear balance disorders include labyrinthis (inflammation of the inner ear), vestibular neuronitis (inflammation of the vestibular nerve), or Meniere’s disease (change of fluid in inner ear).
5. Treatment:Vestibular rehabilitation can help retrain the brain to reinterpret information. By using a series of exercises, from eye exercises to head repositioning to fall risk management, vestibular rehabilitation can help restore a patient’s balance and help them get them back to their highest level of function.